Page 49 of The Unravelings

Oli: Can you do it or not?

Carter: Need I remind you who the fuck I am? I can do anything. If I have to sneak into his fucking house and smash the shit, I will.

Oli: I’m applauding your dedication from here.

Carter: Fucking snarking at me, Agent Princess?

Oli: Goodbye, Grumpy. And thanks…

Carter: Finally! I get the fucking thanks I deserve.

I shake my head, shoving my phone into my pocket as I exit the room quietly, shutting the door behind me. The guys may have a pull at this school, but I sure as fuck don’t.

14

Huxley

Everything disappears the moment I pick up my pen and glide the tip along the paper, writing to the one person I can’t have at my side right now.

Dear Trouble,

Today is day 1,825 without you.

In the blink of an eye, I’ve lived five years without you by my side. Our side. Everything is slipping through my fingers like dust in the wind, moving too fast and getting away from me.

Today is one of those hard days. I’m sure you know why, or at least have an idea.

It’s officially been 43,800 hours since I’ve heard your snorted laughter or stared into your mesmerizing brown eyes and lost myself in them while we lay in the treehouse or in my room watching your sappy as shit DVDs. God, what I wouldn’t give for you to be in my arms, crying at whatever was happening in those stupid romance movies. It gave me an excuse to hold you close and not let you go.

I miss that. You. Everything.

I ache to lose myself in you. Stare into your eyes until they crinkle with joy. I long to see the smile cross your lips.

Just one more time. One more smile in my direction. One more night in my arms.

In other news…

It’s sunny outside with no thunderstorms in sight. You’d say, thank God for that. And I agree. The sun chases away the darkness gathering in the stormy future.

When the clouds gather in the sky, I’ll meet you at the treehouse and hold you until the fear ceases to exist, and I’m the only thing you feel and breathe.

You will fear no more. Ever again.

I miss you. Love you. I’ve never stopped. Ever. No matter what happens later.

I may have failed you from the beginning of our time together. I couldn’t stop fate. Or your demise.

But I could protect your future.

When the time comes, I hope you can forgive me. For everything that’s happened.

Until I see you again, Trouble. On the other side of everything.

As for the other two idiots, I know they feel the same. You’d be proud of them. I hope. Even when they’re falling apart without you here, they’re making strides for the future.

Love you.

Today. Tomorrow. Forever. Always.